The Catapult Creative House will hold its spring StudentArtist of the Month exhibition with (Un)Masked,featuring the work of Southeast Missouri State University artist HaleyHutchison.

The exhibition is currently on view on the second floor ofCatapult Creative House, 612 Broadway in downtown Cape Girardeau, and will runthrough April with a closing reception to be held from 5-9 p.m. on Friday, May3.

In her exhibition, Hutchison, a senior communication multimedia,photography major from Dexter, Missouri, challenges the traditional use ofmasks in photography by altering them with various materials to express anindividuals identity rather than hide it. The resulting images allow the masksto play a prominent role in the expression of the subject. Exploring themes ofanxiety, dissociation, fear, vulnerability and hope, Hutchison reinforces theconstant battle of overcoming these ubiquitous aspects of life.

The images are vibrant and feature the subjects staringstraight into the camera, forcing the viewer to make eye contact with thefigure and connect with the story being told. No Signal, Please Standby features the subject wearing aglitter-covered mask posing next to a television with static on the screen. Blueand red lights fill the room, creating a dream-like illusion, which paired withthe glitter and static, are used to portray the feeling of dissociating.

Each month and as a part of a program to promote community-basedand integrated art making, a student artist is chosen to exhibit his or herwork at Catapult Creative Houses Student Studio Gallery. These exhibitions showcasea range of work from individual artists that highlight their personal andprofessional artistic explorations as a part of the southeast Missouri artcommunity. These artists explore the physicality of the human condition, itsrelationship to nature, and the role of art in contemporary society. Inaddition to the exhibition, attendees are welcome to tour the studio spaces,view ongoing projects, and engage with the artists.